Europe is the fastest-warming continent, a stark reality seen in simmering summer heat waves and rising fatalities. Just this month, a heat dome pushed temperatures in some European cities above 40 degrees C (104 degrees F). 

For many, it’s hard to find relief: Only about 20% of households in Europe have air conditioning, compared to over 90% in the United States.  

This presents a conundrum: How can European cities keep people cool without expanding energy-sucking air conditioning, which will only drive more planet-warming emissions? 

As Europe swelters, countries like Spain, Portugal and Greece are grappling with raging wildfires that have claimed lives and caused thousands to evacuate. This is no coincidence. Climate change is fueling more severe fires, and vice-versa, creating a vicious “climate-fire feedback loop.” 

Governments have pledged to restore 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, but the finance to do so simply isn’t there. A new AI model could change that, revolutionizing the way we track tree growth to make projects more bankable and attract urgently needed investment. 

Communities are reeling from deadly floods in China, massive forest fires in Canada and soaring temperatures in Europe and the U.S. Scaling up climate adaptation can help protect people from such impacts — but that's not the only reason to do it. WRI research shows that investments in adaptation often yield surprisingly high returns that go far beyond disaster resilience.